GB2082212A

GB2082212A - Mechanism for delivering a continuous filament

Info

Publication number: GB2082212A
Application number: GB8123061A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sobrevin Societe de Brevets Industriels
Current assignee: Sobrevin Societe de Brevets Industriels
Priority date: 1980-08-19
Filing date: 1981-07-27
Publication date: 1982-03-03
Also published as: SU1149869A3; KR850000738B1; ES8301176A1; GR74623B; US4478375A; AR223946A1; KR830006494A; DE3031260A1; EP0046187B1; PT73521A; PT73521B; ATE23511T1; DE3175596D1; BR8105285A; ES504756A0; GB2082212B; IN156394B; EP0046187A1; ZA815021B; CS235006B2

Description

1

SPECIFICATION Mechanism for delivering a continuous filament

The invention relates to a mechanism for delivering a continuous filament of the kind comprising a storage body which takes up a 70 number of turns of filament and up to which the filament runs tangentially, in response to rotation of a driven shaft, and from which the filament is withdrawn in an axial direction; and a device for controlling the supply of filament to the storage body, the control device comprising a sensor influenced by the turns of filament on the storage body, a braking device which stops the filament supply, and a device which selectively couples a continuously running drive to the driven shaft.

Such a mechanism is hereinafter referred to as of the kind described.

A known mechanism of the kind described has a driven shaft which is set in rotation via a spring loaded coupling disc. In an arrangement in parallel 85 with the coupling disc there extends a plate carrying electromagnets which obtain from the sensor an impulse for disengaging the coupling disc and acting so as to brake it. This construction is not free from wear, since wear is caused by the coupling disc, during service, constantly engaging and disengaging with other components with which it cooperates. Also, because the coupling disc may be displaced in the axial direction, exact tolerances must be maintained, and this is difficult to achieve and enhances the cost of production.

Furthermore, the filament throughput capacity of such a delivery mechanism; measured in metres per minute, does not satisfy all requirements.

In accordance with the present invention, in a mechanism of the kind described the coupling device comprises a first, stationary, annular solenoid concentric with the axis of the storage body, te solenoid winding being connected, under the control of the sensor, to a source of voltage, and the solenoid being surrounded by a two-part housing of which one housing part is non- rotatably connected to the drive; a gap is formed between the one housing part and the other, stationary, housing part, the width of the gap varying uniformly in the circumferential direction; and a first ring of electrically conductive material protrudes into the gap, the first ring being non- rotatably mounted to the driven shaft, 59 whereby, when the solenoid is energised, the 115 driven shaft is rotated.

With this mechanism, the coupling device now works practically free of wear. When a voltage is applied to the annular solenoid, i.e. electromagnet, this enables the housing part which is connected non-rotatably to the drive, to carry along with it the ring which protrudes into the gap and is connected non-rotatably to the driven shaft. The variation in gap width in that case determines the alternating field in the circumferential direction. Thus no components are necessary which have to be displaced in the axial direction so that the structural tolerances lie in the radial direction. These can be maintained in a way which is simpler

GB 2 082 212 A 1 in production and more accurate. Assembly is also thereby simplified. It has been determined that the filament throughput capacity exceeds the 1600 metres per minute achievable today and, with sensitive opefation, this is so even with very rapid changes in rotation speed of the driven shaft. When the storage body is being filled up the winding of the annular magnet, controlled via the sensor, is energised. When there is upon the storage body a preselected length of wound filament, the voltage supply to the solenoid is caused to be switched off by the sensor, whereupon the braking device comes into action.

Preferably, the rotating and stationary housing parts of the coupling device have parts which overlap one another. In that case it is convenient if the overlapping parts extend parallel with the storage body axis. This measure confers advantages in the case of a plug-in assembly of the components of the delivery mechanism. Also, advantages in the cost of maintenance or repairs are achieved.

A space saving braking device which is easy to mount, making use of the existing components of the coupling device, is achieved if a second ring of electrically conductive material protrudes in a direction generally opposite to the first ring into a gap formed by a stationary housing, of a second annular solenoid, concentric with the axis of the storage body, the gap width varying in the circumferential direction and the winding of the second annular solenoid being connected, under the control of the sensor, to a source of voltage, in alternation with the winding of the first annular solenoid. This means that when the coupling device is working, the winding of the second annular solenoid (of the braking device) receives no voltage. If, on the contrary, the appropriate number of turns of filament are lying side by side on the storage body the sensor causes the voltage supply to the winding of the coupling device to switch off, and the voltage supply to the winding of the braking device to switch on, so that slowing down of the driven shaft occurs immediately.

Preferably, the variation of the width of the or each gap is caused by radially outwardly extending teeth circumferentially spaced around the edge of a respective housing part. Conveniently, the teeth at their free ends have portions which point towards the winding of the respective solenoid.

In order to obtain a decrease in the speed of rotation or respectively an increase during the application of the filament to the storage body, a tachometer may be associated with the driven shaft to control the supply of current to the first annular solenoid.

Advantages in the saving of weight and in assembly technique are achieved if the first ring is mounted on a carrier, preferably of light metal, shaped in the form of a pot and which is nested into a geometrically similarly shaped part of the rotating housing part, the carrier and the housing part being connected to respective shafts in the region of the bottom of their pot shaped parts.

2 GB 2 082 212 A 2 Two examples of a delivery mechanism in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in axial section, of a first example, which includes a stationary storage body; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 11-11 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 111-111 in 75 Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but of a second example which includes a revolving storage body.

The delivery mechanism shown in Figure 1 has a cylindrical housing 1 which, in a reduced diameter section 2, receives ball bearings 3. A hollow drive shaft 5 is seated in the bearings 3 and carries a drive pulley 4.

The inner (right hand in Figure 1) end of the drive shaft 5 is non-rotatably connected to a radially directed flange part of a rotating housing part 7. The housing 7 and a stationary housing part 8 each consists of soft iron and together surround a stationary winding 9 of an annular solenoid 10 arranged concentrically with respect to the drive shaft 5 to enhance the magnetic field produced by the solenoid 10. The stationary housing part 8 has in cross-section a U-shape with sides 8, W extending parallel with the drive shaft 5. A narrow gap is provided between the side W of the stationary housing part 8 and a section 7' of the rotatable housing part 7, parallel with the side W. A radially outwardly extending part 7" of the housing part 7, has portions 7111 pointing towards the winding 9.

Between the stationary housing part 8 and the rotatable housing part 7 a gap 11 is provided. Teeth 12 and intervening tooth spaces 13 at the circumferential edge of the part 7" of the rotatable 105 part-housing 7 causing the gap width to vary along its length (see Figure 2). A ring 14 consisting of electrically conductive material, preferably copper, projects into this gap 11. The ring 14 is seated on a carrier 15 of light metal and shaped in the form of a pot, which is nested into a geometrically similarly shaped part of the rotating housing part 7. In the region of the bottom 16 of its pot, the carrier 15 is connected to a flange 17 projecting radially outwardly from a driven shaft 18 which passes through the drive shaft 5.

A second ring 19 of electrically conductive material is mounted on the carrier 15 opposite to the ring 14 and projects into a gap 20 formed between a stationary soft iron housing of a second 120 annular solenoid 22 arranged concentrically about the driven shaft 18. This stationary housing is likewise made in two parts 21, 25 in such a way that a radially outwardly extending part 25' of the housing part 25 has an integral portion 2W pointing towards the winding 26 of the annular solenoid 22, while opposite teeth 23 and intervening tooth gaps 24 of housing part 25 lie teeth 23' and tooth gaps 24' on the other housing part 2 1. The gap 20 consequently also has a gap width which varies in the circumferential direction, due to the teeth 23 and the tooth gaps 24.

The driven shaft 18 is seated in ball bearings 46 in the housing 1. At its end remote from the drive shaft 5, the driven shaft 18 has a reduced diameter portion which is seated at that point in ball bearings 27 in a storage body 28. The construction of the storage body 28 correspon.ds with that shown in West German Patent Specification No. 2,417,440.

In front of the storage body 28 there is arranged a filament eye carrier 29 which is keyed onto the driven shaft 18. A filament eye 30 lies at the end of the filament eye carrier 29 which projects beyond the storage body 28. The filament which is to be applied to the storage body 28 passes through a hole 31 drilled in the driven shaft 18 and from it comes into a hole 32 drilled radially in the filament eye carrier 29, which continues into the filament eye 30. Coming from the filament eye 30 the filament runs up onto an annular, radially inwardly tapering part 33 of the storage body 28, the part 33 continuing into a cylindrical drum wall. A carrier 34 is seated in, and is slidable longitudinally relatively to, the storage body 28 by means of a central screw 35 which serves to adjust the longitudinal position of the carrier 34. In the carrier 34, sloping at an acute angle to the centreline of the storage body 28, which coincides with the axes of the drive shaft 5 and driven shaft 18, channels are provided for individually receiving rollers 36 uniformly angularly spaced around the carrier. The rollers 36 pass through respective slots 37 in the storage body 28 and intersect an angled throat 38 of the storage body. The lays F of filament therefore arrive first of all on the part 33 and then on the rollers 36 and the outer wall of the storage body 28 which is encircled by a brake ring 39. The filament F leaves the storage body 28 through an eye 40 in a snout 41 which surrounds the storage body 28 concentrically.

On the filament eye carrier there is a radially outwardly projecting spur 42 which cooperates with a tachometer 43.

The storage body 28 includes a sensor 44, indicated by an arrow, which is influenced by the turns F of filament which have been taken up by the storage body 28. The sensor 44 may, for example, be a light sensor which controls a switch 45.

As long as the turns F of filament which have been taken up by the storage body 28 do not influence the sensor 44, the switch 45 remains ip the position drawn in solid line in Figure 1 and a voltage is applied to the winding 9 of the annular solenoid 10. The ring 14 protruding into the gap 11 between the stationary housing part 8 and the housing part 7 permanently driven by the drive shaft 5, is thereby carried along without mechanical contact, while, via the carrier 15, causing the driven shaft 18 to rotate. The driven shaft 18 in turn moves the filament eye 30 round the storage body 28. By means of the tachometer 43 controlled by the spur 42 on the filament eye W 1 3 carrier 29, the current supply to the annular solenoid 10 of the coupling device may be controlled. When the number of turns of filament reaches such a level that the sensor 44 is 6 influenced, the latter causes the switch 45 to move into the position shown in dotted line in.Figure 1. The winding 9 of the annular solenoid 10.then receives no voltage while a voltage is applied to the winding 26 of the annular solenoid 22. This 10- causes the ring 19 protruding into the gap 20, and hence the driven shaft 18, to slow down. After the number of turns of filament on the storage body 28, have been reduced, the switch 45 may be caused to return to the position shown in solid line in Figure 1. This can be performed very sensitively and is effected with a very rapid changeover. The gap width determines in that case the alternating field lying in the circumferential direction.

The device shown in Figure 4 corresponds with 2-0 that shown in Figures 1 to 3 except that a drumlike storage body 47 is non-rotatably mounted on a drive shaft 18'. Also, the filament feed in this case is provided not through the drive shaft 5' and the driven shaft 18', but from a filament feed which is not shown, the filament being fed tangentially onto the storage body 47 in the region of an annular radially inwardly tapering part 48.

Claims

1. A mechanism for delivering a continuous filament, the mechanism comprising a storage body which takes up a number of turns of filament 85 and up to which the filameht runs tangentially, in response to rotation of a driven shaft, and from which the filament is withdrawn in an axial direction; and a device for controlling the supply of filament to the storage body, the control device compri sing a sensor influenced by the turns of filament on the storage body, a braking device which stops the filament supply, and a device which selectively couples a continuously running drive to the driven shaft, wherein the coupling device comprises a first, stationary, annular solenoid concentric with the axis of the storage body, the solenoid winding being connected, under the control of the sensor, to a source of voltage, and the solenoid being surrounded by a 100 two-part housing of which one housing part is non-rotatably connected to the drive; a gap is 50, formed between the one housing part and the other, stationary, housing part, the width of the gap varying uniformly in the circumferential GB 2 082 212 A 3 direction; and a first ring of electrically conductive material protrudes into the gap, the first ring being non-rotatably mounted to the driven shaft, whereby, when the solenoid is energised, the driven shaft is rotated.

2. A delivery mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotating and stationary housing parts of the coupling device have parts which overlap one another.

3. A delivery mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the overlapping parts extend parallel with the storage body axis.

4. A delivery mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a second ring of electrically conductive material protrudes in a direction generally opposite to the first ring into a gap formed by a stationary housing of a second annular solenoid, concentric with the axis of the storage body, the gap width varying in the circumferential direction, and the winding of the second annular solenoid being connected, under the control of the sensor, to a source of voltage, in alternation with the winding of the first annular solenoid.

5. A delivery mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the variation of the width of the or each gap is caused by radially outwardly extending teeth circumferentially spaced around the edge of a respective housing part.

6. A delivery mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the teeth, at their free ends, have portion-s which point towards the winding of the respective solenoid.

7. A delivery mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first ring is mounted on a carrier shaped in the form of a pot and which is nested into a geometrically similarly shaped part of the rotating housing part, the carrier and the housing part being connected to respective shafts in the region of the bottom of their pot shaped parts. 95

8. A delivery mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the carrier is made of a light metal.

9. A delivery mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a tachometer is associated with the driven shaft and controls the supply of current to the first annular solenoid of the coupling device.

10. A delivery mechanism according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to either of the examples illustrated in the accompanying 106 drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1982. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.